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Brodie Chapman has paid tribute to Olympic time trial champion Grace Brown after winning the event at the Australian road cycling championships.
Brodie Chapman has paid tribute to Grace Brown for the inspiration after becoming the new time trial boss in Australian women's road cycling.
Chapman fulfilled her destiny on Thursday, winning the time trial at the Australian championships in Perth.
She finished third in 2023 and runner-up to Brown last year, only by a few seconds.
Brown would go on to enjoy a stellar 2024, winning the Olympic gold medal and the world title in the event. She and Chapman were also in the team that won the mixed relay at the world championships.
Midway through last season, Brown stunned the sport by announcing her retirement, leaving a void in the event that Chapman is ready to fill.
"She's obviously finished her career on a high and I have to thank Grace for always keeping me on my toes, being an inspiration and also sharing her wisdom and experience with me," Chapman said after claiming the national time trial title for the first time.
"It feels really good to step into her shoes here."
There is an impressive lineage among the national women's time trial champions - Shara Gillow, Katrin Garfoot and Brown are multiple winners who went on to compete in the event at the Olympics.
This is Chapman's second national title, having also won the road race crown two years ago.
Chapman has switched teams for this season, joining UAE ADQ, and is under no illusions that there is plenty of hard work ahead if she is to emulate her predecessors.
"It is a nice little collection," she said of her national championship time trial medals.
"Obviously each year, my goal is always just to improve and I have to remind myself, I have a whole year of experience behind me.
"It does feel really good to wear the jersey in this discipline. I really like it.
"Definitely it pays off. When you want to improve and you do see improvements, it feels really good.
"But the sights are always set higher and higher. Now I go back to Europe and there's a whole new level of competition there."
Chapman will be among the favourites again for the women's elite road race on Sunday, the last day of the nationals, at King's Park in Perth.